20 October 2013

Bad Boys vs. Nice Guys: Who Really Finishes Last?

The unattainable bad boy is all the rage in fiction—YA, NA, and adult. What do YOU think the appeal is?

As a general rule, I prefer nice guys. A guy who respects his mother and looks out for his little sisters. One who is courteous and kind. A guy who reads good books and can hold his own in an intellectual conversation. I've never really understood the bad boy appeal.

Whenever I read a book or watch a movie where the girl ignores her steady, reliable "nice guy" best friend (who is always secretly in love with her) in favor of the dangerous bad boy (who will most likely break her heart once or twice before she manages to reform him), I want to slap some sense into the silly girl. Doesn't she realize that jumping into a relationship believing: "I can change him" is a recipe for disaster?

So when I read SEVEN DAY FIANCE, I didn't expect to fall head-over-heels for Cane Robicheaux. But Cane isn't your typical bad boy. Yes, he's got quite a reputation as a ladies' man. And he's got the bad boy look, complete with tattoos and a signature smirk, down cold. But he's not afraid to take his goddaughter to see the latest chick flick in the theater, and he's totally sweet to his little sisters.

And the more I got to know him, the more I realized Cane is truly a nice guy in disguise. A sexy kind of guy who you wouldn't mind bringing home to meet your family. And that's when he won my heart.

2 comments:

Oh my gosh, I'm such a sucker for bad boys, but nice guys always finished last, and just once, just once, I would love to see the boy next door with the dorky glasses and heart on his sleeve when the girl! :) Cane won my heart too though. But as you said is not really a bad boy. Not at heart. He puts on a good show, but he is such a softy! :)

This is such a great question, Veronica. It all goes back to Jane Austen for me: should Marianne end up with Colonel Brandon or Willoughby; should Lizzie choose Wickham or Darcy? I always choose the broody good guy.